Hydraulic Piston Spud Pole for Shallow-Water Vessel Anchoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spud poles are unsuitable for anchoring larger vessels in shallow water due to their unsightly, cumbersome, noisy, and space-consuming retraction machinery, and they struggle to efficiently harness water currents for power generation in marine vessels.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic piston spud pole system that includes an elongate sleeve with a hydraulic piston and pump assembly, allowing for easy deployment and retrieval, and enabling the vessel to anchor and pivot with water currents, while being aesthetically and operationally discreet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional anchor and chain system is used for anchoring larger vessels in shallow water, then anchoring capability is provided, but substantial time and attention are required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical anchor and chain system with a hydraulic piston spud pole system. The hydraulic piston provides mechanical advantage to deploy and retrieve the spud pole with minimal manual effort, eliminating the need for heavy chains and complex winching operations while reducing both operational time and effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic piston mechanism within the spud pole assembly. This hydraulic system enables smooth, controlled deployment and retrieval of the spud pole by utilizing fluid pressure to move the piston, thereby simplifying operation and reducing the time required compared to conventional mechanical systems.
2Ease of operation
If conventional spud pole retraction machinery is installed on vessels, then spud pole deployment is enabled, but the machinery becomes unsightly, cumbersome, noisy, and consumes deck space
Solution Approach 1:
The spud pole is designed to nest within the elongate sleeve when retracted. The hydraulic piston is contained within the spud pole structure itself, and the entire assembly fits within the sleek elongate sleeve. This nested configuration eliminates the need for external drums, winches, or complex retraction machinery that would compromise aesthetics and deck space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the bulky retraction machinery from the visible exterior of the vessel by integrating all mechanical components within the elongate sleeve structure. The hydraulic system is contained within the spud pole, eliminating the need for external mechanical equipment and thus preserving deck space and aesthetics while maintaining full deployment capability.
3Reliability
If a vessel anchors in locations with strong water currents, then holding position is achieved, but efficient power generation from current-driven propeller rotation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spud pole system enables the vessel to dynamically adjust its orientation and position in response to water currents. By allowing the vessel to weathervane freely while anchored, the system optimizes the alignment of current-driven propellers with the flow direction, thereby maximizing power generation efficiency without compromising holding position reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchored vessel configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides reliable holding position through the spud pole while also enabling efficient power generation by allowing the vessel to orient itself with the current. This multi-functional capability resolves the contradiction between stable anchoring and energy harvesting.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient anchoring in tight quarters and optimizes power generation from water currents by allowing the vessel to weathervane, improving operational ease and aesthetics compared to conventional anchors.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic column defined between the vertically-extending outer surface of the spud pole, the vertically-extending inner surface of the elongate sleeve, the piston, and the sleeve bearing
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic piston spud pole for anchoring a vessel may comprise an elongate sleeve having a top, a hydraulic inlet, and a bottom terminating in a bottom aperture, a portion of the elongate sleeve being formed to contain a hydraulic column; a spud pole having a piston vertically-movably seated within the elongate sleeve; and a pump assembly connected to the hydraulic inlet that is preferably activated by a controller to lift or drop the spud pole. The elongate sleeve may comprise a vertically-extending inner surface and a sleeve bearing, and the spud pole may comprise a vertically-extending outer surface configured to fit closely against the sleeve bearing while the piston fits closely against the elongate sleeve's vertically-extending inner surface. The hydraulic column may be defined between the vertically-extending outer surface of the spud pole, the vertically-extending inner surface of the elongate sleeve, the piston, and the sleeve bearing.